Beating time!

Elene and co watched along with the rest of the Akagami pirates.

Watching them, they would see Ian and Shanks's attacks as something that they can't dodge, and that would definitely hurt them. But then, both would easily block each other's strikes as if they were a regular sword/spear strike.

This spar that was happening, might as well be the most impressive fight they had witnessed in their life.

That is if they were capable of following them.

Though for now, they were still able to follow the movement of both of them…

Shanks's speed was impressive, he was able to keep up with Ian just fine, even though it shouldn't be possible, since Ian was clearly stronger and faster.

Rather than what they thought, it was not speed, but rather Haki. Shanks was using future sight, and 'his' was potent enough to see the future, plus he was fast enough to dodge out of harm's way.

How was Shanks so fast though?

His crew already knew of course, but Ian's noticed something about Shanks.

Red lightning was surrounding his form, and he even attacked with it occasionally.

The crew continued on observing as they talked among themselves.

"Most likely that will be the answer," Elene remarked after a while of watching. "But for now let's watch a bit more." Although it was almost obvious, she still wanted to be sure.

In the first place, this was just to pass time, so it didn't hurt to male speculations and so on.

"I am most certain about it too!" Robin replied as she didn't take her eyes off the fight.

"Likewise! But even with that, big bro Ian is going to kick his ass later on just watch!" Stella cheerfully added.

Bert, Stella, Robin, agreed to her statement with nods.

The rest stayed silent. But there was approval in their eyes. Along with anticipation to see that happening.

And after a few more exchanges, they surmised it was due to that. There was no longer any doubt in their minds, as Shanks himself explained it…

****

Ian had his spear in his hand as he parried a strike from Shanks, and then proceeded to kick him into his stomach.

But Shanks was fast as he dodged, and swung his sword releasing red electricity in the shape of an air blade.

'He's fast.' Ian remarked. He knew it had to do with the lightning that was surrounding Shanks's form.

Ian dodged it easily and countered with his own lightning air blades.

Earlier he had seen Shanks use it, and the moment he had come near it he dodged it hastily…

Why?

Because it was made out of Haki.

Yes, Haki.

In terms of power, the red lightning was inferior to Ian's power, but the fact it was made from Haki made it all the more dangerous.

There was also the fact that Ian didn't know what kind of technique this was… His father told him there was only one technique that was left for him to learn… Was this it?

But Shanks had said that he was going to test him first…

Ian was left wondering internally.

Once again Shanks dodged easily a few of Ian's air blades while he swung his sword deflecting the rest.

They had been fighting like this for half an hour now. Hundreds of moves were exchanged between the both of them, and yet there was no visible injury on any of them.

Shanks lowered his sword a bit.

And seeing Ian's wondering look he started to speak without stopping his attacks.

He jumped at Ian swinging his sword coated in Haki and red lightning.

"This is also something, as far as I know, only I can use!" Shanks said.

*Clang*

Ian raised a brow as he blocked the sword strike… What about that old man then, huh?

But all jokes aside, Shanks didn't know about Howell, so it is true that maybe he is the only one.

But Ian's question was if anyone can train to use this?

As if reading his mind, Shanks Answered.

"When you use the conquerors' technique Infusion, a type of black lightning results. This is the advanced form of that. When one can control it, it would take on the color suited to the person! But…" Shanks explained. "As far as I know, no one has been successful in learning it, even the late pirate king, Roger!" Shanks dropped a bomb on Ian.

*Grunt*

Shanks exerted his power trying to push Ian only to fail.

He fell back soon after and made a thrusting stance, which led to a beam of red lighting being thrown at him.

Ian raised a brow. There were so many applications for how he could use the lightning it appeared. Well, Shanks was a strong man so of course, he would master his own powers.

Ian didn't know what the technique was earlier so he didn't venture out to test what would work against it, but now that he knew… He didn't take long to know what to use.

He coated his spear in both types of Haki, and then black lightning started to spark around it.

He then proceeded to strike the incoming beam aside with a wide excited smile on his face.

'A new technique that even the pirate king couldn't master… I will definitely learn it!' Ian thought to himself.

Ian managed to redirect the attack easily as he was thinking to himself.

Now that he knew what the attack was, he of course knew how to stop it.

Shanks had a bit of amazement in his eyes.

At that moment, Ian somehow reminded him of Roger. Their figures overlapped with the both of them grinning widely.

Roger had once in the past, did the same thing to Shanks. He easily reflected the attack by slapping it aside, and cheeringly remarking: "You are one hundred years early to land an attack on me, you brat!"

Truthfully, due to how young Ian was, he didn't think that he would have already mastered the Infusion technique.

It turned out he was wrong.

'What other surprises are you hiding, I wonder?' Shanks thought to himself.

Ian put the spear on his shoulder.

And then with a smile, he said.

"This technique… I will master it!" He promised. There was no doubt in his words. As if he really believed that what he said was going to happen.

Shanks didn't want to burst his bubble, but he doubted anyone could master something that even his late captain, Roger, failed to do…

Still looking at Ian's grin and confident stance, he smiles and took back what he was going to say.

"I look forward to that time." He replied.

Shanks then felt like he had gotten what he wanted by testing Ian, so it was time to start teaching him the ultimate form of Haki known…

"I think fighting anymore like this is pointless… So I'm going to teach you the technique now!" Shanks said.

Ian hearing what he said, and noticing the atmosphere change also turned serious.

He waited for Shanks's words on how he was going to teach him this technique.

"If you want to teach someone anything related to battle, the best way is always… To beat them until they learn it instinctively!" Shanks grinned a savage grin.

And Ian suddenly had goosebumps on his skin.